"Mentally he's the best" - Tommy Paul hails Novak Djokovic for 'crazy level' in Australian Open contest, explains how Serb stands out from others

Tommy Paul admitted to getting 'pummeled' in the 2023 Australian Open semifinals by Novak Djokovic, who he believes is second to none in terms of mental strength and ability in world tennis. The American player stressed that the mental aspect makes the biggest difference in the most crucial matches, something Djokovic has mastered according to him.

Earlier this year, the Serbian tennis great beat Paul 7-5, 6-1, 6-2 to reach his 10th Australian Open final, which he ended up winning against Stefanos Tsitsipas for his 10th Australian Open and 22nd Grand Slam title. Notably in that match, Paul overturned a 1-4 deficit in the first set to level proceedings before the Serb steamrolled through the rest of the contest.

While the rest of the scoreline after 5-5 suggests Djokovic's game was just too much for Paul to handle, the American feels his opponent's mental capability was the defining factor.

"I think mentally he's the best in the game," Tommy Paul declared in a press conference at Indian Wells, reflecting on his Australian Open semi-final.

"That's where you see the difference in those matches at least. I think that's where most of the difference was in that match."

Paul further stressed that the mentality of the players makes a much bigger difference than many believe and he feels Djokovic used his experience and skill in that regard to full effect.

"Like you say, Oh, the only difference was mentality? Or like his mental game was better? But, like, that's big, you know. Like it was like 7-5, 6-1, 6-1(6-2) or something. It was all mental, I think," Paul added.

The World No. 19 highlighted the World No. 1's "crazy level" of tennis. Paul vowed that he is working on the mental aspect of tennis after learning from his experience playing against the 35-year-old.

"I mean, it's a pretty crazy level, definitely. But I think he just handles every situation, every moment in massive matches so well," Paul expressed.

"I mean, if I want to be where I want to be, I think or I know that's something I'm going to have to get a lot better at, and something I'm working on big time."

Meanwhile, Paul beat Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 6-3 to move into the second round of the ongoing Indian Wells tournament.

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"Don’t remember ever seeing him play so aggressively in a Slam" - Coach Goran Ivanisevic on Novak Djokovic's Australian Open 2023 campaign

Novak Djokovic celebrates after winning the 2023 Australian Open.

Goran Ivanisevic recently opened up about Novak Djokovic's victorious 2023 Australian Open campaign, one of the biggest talking points of which was the Serb's hamstring injury which he carried throughout the tournament. Ivanisevic explained that he Serbian quite consciously played a highly aggressive brand of tennis, something he had never seen him do before, to ensure that he did not add much pressure to his injured hamstring.

Djokovic won the Australian Open by dropping only one set throughout the fortnight, against Enzo Couacaud in the second round.

"In matches, you saw that he didn’t chase many balls, but he still managed to win the title by playing a perfected aggressive brand of tennis. I don’t remember ever seeing him play so aggressively in a Slam," Ivanisevic told Tennis Majors in a recent interview.

After being unable to compete in Indian Wells and Miami owing to his unvaccinated status and the United States' still-in-place vaccine mandate, the current World No. 1 will next be seen on tour at the start of the claycourt season.